Electric motor control system



July 21, 1953 A. E. R. ARNoT ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14, 1949 July 21, 1953 A. E. R. ARNoT 2,646,539

ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM y Filed April 14, 1949 A 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Vlug July 21, 1953 A. E. R. ARNQT 2,646,539

ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM F'iled April 14, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 21, 1953 ELECTRIC MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM Alfred Erwin Reginald Arnot, Basingstoke, England, assignor to Emmanuel Kaye and John Reginald Sharp, both of Basingstoke, Hampshire, England Application April 14, 1949, Serial No. 87,530 In Great Britain April 16, 1948 13 Claims.

This invention comprises improvements in or relating to electric motor control gear. f

It is an object of this invention to provide an installation comprising an electric motor and control gear therefor, Which is characterised by possessing the advantages in dealing with heavy loads which are normally attributed to series Wound motors but which is capable of simple speed regulation and of use regeneratively, that is to say, with the motor acting as a dynamo and serving to brake the apparatus to which it is connected.

According to the present invention, an installation comprising an electric motor and control gear therefor, in Which the motor has a shunt iield winding and the control gear comprises automatic regulating means for the shunt iield of the motor such that it will automatically increase or decrease the iield strength between certain limits as load on the motor increases or decreases, is characterised by the fact that a series starting resistance is employed for starting the motor on load in combination with manuallyoperated means to determine the rate of cutting out such resistance and means to ensure that the shunt iield current is substantially at a maximum until all or substantially all the starting resistance has been cut out.

The limits between which the automatic regulating means for the neld strength operate may also be controlled by the setting of the manually operated means.

The automatic Vmeans for varying the shunt eld current may be of the type comprising a field-reducing resistance and a magnet coil in series with the motor armature current for cutting out or diminishing the value of the resistance. The field-reducing resistance may for example be a carbon pile resistance, the magnet acting to compress the carbon pile and so reduce the value of the resistance when load increases but to release it and so reduce field current when load decreases.

In one form of installation hereinafter described the Series starting resistance is under direct manual control and a manually variable resistance for reducing the shunt iield current is provided vconnected in parallel with the automatically operated means and arranged so as to be short circuited when the starting resistance is in circuit but to be put in circuit by further movement of the controller after the starting resistance has been cut out.

In an alternative apparatus the series starting resistance is provided with magnetic means for altering its value and manually-operated means to determine the rate `of action of the magnetic means, that is to say, the rate at Which the magnetic means alters the series starting resistance. For example, the armature series resistance may consist of a carbon pile and the magnetic means for altering its Value may comprise a solenoid to act upon the carbon pile in combination with an yelectromagnetic switch actuated by current in series with the motor armature for determining the current at which the solenoid compresses the carbon pile.

The accompanying diagrams are given by way of example of possible :arrangements in accordance With the invention. In the diagrams:

Figure l is a diagram of one circuit, having a direct manual control for the starting resistance;

Figure 2 is a diagram of an alternative circuit;

Figure 3 is .a diagram of a circuit for the case of a magnetically-controlled starting resistance the rate of action of Which is regulated by a manual control;

Figure 4 isla diagrammatic longitudinal section through the starting resistance of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is'ra diagrammatic side elevation of the manual controller including the shunt iield resistance of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.

The circuit shown in the diagram of connections Figure 1 is a' typical application to an electric railway train or trolley-bus. In such a system the line current is comparatively unimportant, the motor heating characteristics determining the permissible currentgno hdeclutching of the motor from the driving vvheelsy is required as may be desirable for an industrial truck, and as the reversing switch is comparatively seldom used, a simple mechanically interlocked varrangement thereof is suitable. In the arrangement shown the very important feature of regenerative braking is combined with a further range of rheostatic braking.

The system consists of a motor |59 iitted with interpoles |5| and a shunt eld |52; a controller |53 consists of a variable armature resistance |54 having a sliding -contact |55 so coupled to a variable eld resistance |56` having a sliding contact |51 that no ield resistance is introduced until all armature resistance has been excluded; the reversing switch |58 is mechanically interlocked With the controller so that it can be operated only when the controller is in the neutral position as shown, whilst a surge-absorbing device |594 is arranged to prevent arcing of the iield switching contacts; an automatic eld regulatdevice is supplied in the form of a carbon pile regulator (which is more suitable for the heavier field currents of a railway traction motor than a vibrating relay), and consists of a carbon pile ii, a series operating coil 16|, a polarising coil 62 fed through a barretter |63, a controlling coil IG in series with the eld winding Which aiects the motor current according to speed, and a modifying control coil |65 fed from a constant voltage source consisting of a barretter |68 in series with a resistance of negligible temperature co-efncient |51 drawing a current several times as great as the coil |65, which is itself connected in series with a governing resistance |63 of high temperature co-ehicient located in the motor. A barretter, as dened by Chambers Technical Dictionary, 1940, is an iron wire resistance mounted in a glass bulb containing hydrogen, and having a temperature -coeicient so arranged that the variation of resistance produced insures that the current in the circuit to which it is connected remains constant over a wide range of voltage.

A change-over switch |69 is coupled to the sliders |55, |51 of the controller |53 and adapted to eneigise the coils |10 or |1| of two contactors having contacts |12, |13. The two supply lines |1ii, |15 are arranged t0 take current from collector shoes or trailing cables as may be required.

In operation, the controller handle carrying sliders |55, |51 is moved slowly to the right; this operates switch |69 to energise coil I1 closing contacts |13 and applying full field to the motor at the same time as the armature is fed through the total resistance |54. The motor develops greater speed as the resistance |54 is decreased, until the motor is running on full field with the armature across the line. Further movement of the controller handle now inserts an increasing amount of eld resistance in the circuit, thereby increasing motor speed. The carbon pile regulator is preferably designed with a characteristic such that it offers little change of resistance up to a set value of current in coil |6i, then a rapid decrease of resistance for increasing current; the polarising coil |52 assists the coil |E| when motoring currents flow, but opposes regenerative currents, the barretter |63 being provided so that a constant current ilow ensures constant characteristics irrespective of temperature or line voltage. If therefore, due to rapid insertion of field resistance or heavy loads with light eld condition. the load current through coil |5| tends to increase above the set value mentioned above, the pile |60 will decrease the field resistance and maintain the pre-set current. The coil |64 is arranged to assist coil ISI, and carries the field current which is a function of motor speed; hence as the motor runs faster and cooling improves, a higher permissible current may automatically be drawn. The coil |65 opposes coil |6|, so that as the motor heats up, the resistance |68 increases, current in coil |55 drops and less current is required in coil |6| to operate the pile; this automatically reduces the load current according to motor heating characteristics.

If now the controller has been moved to the right and is moved back, the eld is rst increased and current is regenerated into the lines |14, |15, the polarising coil |62 ensuring that the pile has no eiect during regeneration. When the field has been increased to a maximum, regeneration ceases and armature resistance is reintroduced until switch |69 operates, de-energises coil |1| and opens contacts |13; comparatively little arcing can take place on these contacts as the vehicle will still be running at such a speed that the motor back E. M. F. is ysubstantially the same as the line E. M. F., and in any case the full resistance |54 is in series with the armature.

Further movement of the controller to the Vleft causes switch |69 to energise coil |10, which closes contacts |12 and connects the resistance |54 in parallel with the motor for rheostatic braking; the resistance is gradually reduced until it becomes a short-circuit, and no further braking takes place unless the mechanical brakes are arranged to operate with still further movement o1" the controller handle. It will be noted that in the event of an open-circuited supply line which would make regeneration impossible, the rheostatic braking will operate in any case to ensure safety.

In the event of a number of motors being required to run together on one tr-ain with a fair measure of load sharing, it will be seen that with a controller as shown in Figure 1 the condition of having a pure shunt motor on full eld and without armature resistance can arise; thus any motor tending to run faster than others on the same train will try to supply the entire tractive eiTort and probably burn out. In order to prevent this and give the motors an elastic characteristic over the whole range of control, the sliders |55, |51 may be staggered so that eld resistance starts to be introduced before all the armature resistance is out out. This ensures that the motors are either running on ull eld but with a measure of armature resistance, or with no armature resistance but a margin of automatic field control.

The starting resistance I 54 may be any known kind of variable resistance, such as a brush sliding over resistance wires or studs connected to a resistance bank; a liquid resistance with submersible electrodes; a carbon pile under compression, or the like. Furthermore, if the circuit is applied to diesel-electric trains or the like, the initial current may be regulated by variation of the generator field without the inclusion of any series armature resistance; the circuit may also be arranged so that the means responsive to motor armature current are used to control the generator eld.

1ligure 2 shows the addition of a preselector reversing circuit to the circuit of Figure l. At the same time the resistance |54 has been shown as a potentiometer type whilst the current control is by a carbon pile |89 having an operating coil |19 energised through the contacts |11 of a vibrating relay having an operating coil |16 and a polarising magnet |18. rllhe main contacts |12, |13 have been shown as mechanically operated and connected to the sliders |55, |51.

The reversing system consists of a reversing switch |84 and a relay comprising two operating coils 58|, |82 and change-over contacts |83. A warning light |85 is tted to give visible indication that the circuit is set for reverse motion. In operation, if the switch |85 is open, the coil |8| is not energised, the contacts |93 remain set and operation of the controller will close contacts |13, |12 to start the installation in a forward direction. Closing of the switch |86 will now produce no effect, as with contacts |13 closed there will be no operating potential in the circuit 0f coil |8|. As soon as the controller is returned to open contact |13, coil I8I will be energised by the difference between line voltage and the motor back E. M. F.; this dierence will not be sunlciently great to operate the contacts |83 until the back E. M. F., and hence eld current, is so low that no undue arcing of the contacts |83 can occur. Thus, as the motor comes substantially to rest the contacts |83 will change over, and the lamp |85 will light. Operation of the controller will now close contacts |13 and de-energise coil |8| but coil |82 is now connected across the iield circuit and will continue to hold in the contacts |83 until the controller again opens contacts |13 and the field current has dropped to a very low value. In other respects the circuit shown in Figure 2 operates similarly to the circuit shown in Figure 1, the carbon pile |80 being actuated by `the coil |16 in a similar way to that in which the carbon pile |60 of Figure l is operated by the coil ISI, and the resistance |56 being cut out until just before the resistance |54 has been cut out so that until the motor has been started and substantially all the resistance |54 has been eliminated from the circuit the action of the carbon pile |80 is ineiective.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 5, the motor |53 with interpoles |5| is connected by a line 20| to the negative pole of a battery 202 and by line 200 throughv a series resistance 2 6 and main contactor contacts 203 which are closed to the positive pole of battery 202 when an operating coil 204 for the contactor is energised. The motor |50 has a shunt eld winding |52 which is connected through a reversing switch |58 on the one hand to the negative line 20| through line 205 and on the other hand through line 205 to a shunt field regulating resistance 201 and thence by a connection 208 to the positive line on the motor side of the contacts 203. A field regulating control member 209 moves over the resistance 201 so as to be capable of inserting part or all of the resistance 201 intov effective connection in series with the eld winding |52. The control member 209 in the rst part of its movement moves over som@ turns 2|0 of the resistance 201 which do not afford any effective resistance and are therefore shown in the diagram as short circuited. Tn this initial part of the movement of the control member 209 the field winding |52 will therefore receive full voltage from the battery 202 as soon as the contacts 203 are closed. The control member 209 is mechanically connected as indicated by the dotted line 2|| to contacts 2|2 so that the first action of the controller is to close the contacts 2 I 2. The contacts 2 I2 are in series with the operating coil 204 of the main contactor through the line 2|3 and a's soon as the contacts 2|2 are closed the contactor closes the contacts 203 and current flows to the motor through coils 2 i4, 2 I 5 hereinafter referred to and starting resistance 2IS. The control member 209 is also mechanically connected as indicated by the dotted line 2|1 to the contacts 2 I8 so as to close them after the contacts 2|2 have been closed. The contacts 2I8, when closed through connection 2I9, connect the line 208 to a line 220 which leads to an operating coil 22| the other end of which is connected by a line 222 to the negative line 20 I. The coil 22| is a solenoid coil for operating the carbon pile starting resistance 2|6 and it serves to compress the starting resistance and reduce it until at the point of maximum compression it closes contacts 223 which finally short circuit the starting resistance. The cutting-out of the carbon pile starting resistance does not however proceed instantaneously; the rate at which the resistance is cut out is under manual control and this is effected as follows: The contacts ZIB are not directly closed by the movement of the control member 209 but the control member 203 operates upon them by varying the effect of a spring 224 which. tends to open them against a spring 26'.' (Figure 5) which tends to hold them closed. On the other hand the series magnet EES tends to open them. When the contacts k2 i5 are opened by the magnet 2|5 the circuit of the solenoid coil 22E is broken and the pressure on the carbon pile is released. Consequently the starting current cannot rise above the value at which the coil 2 I5 will open the contacts 2|8 and the solenoid 22| continually checked in its efforts to compress the carbon pile ZIB and is only able to compress it further (at a given manual setting of the controller) as the motor speeds up. The effect of the spring 22,4 is that it presses more or less upon the contacts 2|8 and the current required to open the contacts against the spring will depend upon the adjustment of the spring 224 which is under manual control by its operative connection to the manual control member 209. Therefore, the operator can determine by the position to which he moves the control member 209, the amount of the starting current to which the motor |50 is limited by the operation of the solenoid 22 I. The mechanical arrangement of the parts for this purpose is hereinafter described with reference to Figure 5 of the drawings.

The operating coil 2|4, which is also in series with the motor |50 serves to close a movable contact member 225 against a contact 226. When the contacts 225, 22S are closed together they short circuit, through connections 221, 206, the field regulating resistance 201, Therefore, when the motor has been brought up to speed, if the operator moves the control member 20! along the resistance 231 so as to put regulating resistance in series with the field winding, should the motor take a current great enough for the coil 2| 4 to operate the Contact 225, the contacts 225, 226 will be closed and the iield resistance will be short circuited thus increasing the current in the field Winding and correspondingly reducing the current in the armature circuit and the speed of the motor. The result will be that the contact 225 will open again and the operation will be cyclically repeated, with the contact 225 vibrating and the amount of the iield current will deter mine itself so that the motor armature current will not rise above that required to close the contacts 225, 226. This gives the motor |50 a characteristic when operating under control of the vibrating contacts which is similar to the characteristic of a series wound motor but with the important differences that the speed drops with a substantially constant armature current and that the shunt field gives a ceiling to the maximum speed.

In the diagram there is shown an interlock control coil 230 which is connected by lines 243|, 232 to the motor side of contacts 263 and the negative line 20| so that it is energised as long as the motor |50 is receiving current or possesses any back E. M. F. As long as the coil 239 is energised the interlock bolt 233 is held in engagement with a part 234 of the reversing switch |58 and prevents reversal of the field winding |52. As soon as the motor becomes "dead the eld Winding can be reversed.

The coil 2|4 and vibrating contact 225 are polarised, which is indicated in the diagram by a polarising magnet 235. In the event of the vehicle on which the installation is placed running downhill or otherwise overtaking its own power supply, the current through coil 21d is reversed and the contact 225 makes contact with another contact 236 which is connected to the Contact 216 and ensures that in whatever position the operator places the manual control member 299 the solenoid 225 will be kept energised and the resistance 216 will be cut out. At the same time a connection 231 to a rectifier unit 238 and thence to the line 213 is completed and this ensures that the contactor coil 204 will be kept in operation even if the operator opens the contacts 212. The motor will therefore pump current back regeneratively into the battery 222 and the speed of the vehicle will be kept down to the running speed of the motor.

Referring to Figure 4, this shows the construction of the carbon pile 216 and its relation to the operating coil 221. The carbon pile 2i6 consists of a series of carbon rings which are threaded upon a vitreous-enamelled sleeve 241] and which bear at one end upon a disc 2131 while they are pressed upon at the other end by a movable pressure-disc 262. The coil 221 is within the sleeve 223i) which, being of steel, serves to com plete its magnetic circuit, together with the disc 241, a core 2653 and an end ring 252 of magnetic material. W'ithin the coil 221 is a solenoid armature 245 which carries a pull rod 252.6 passing through the movable end disc 262. A spring 221' on the pull rod 226 transmits the pressure to the disc 222 and also ensures that the solenoid core 2155 is in electrical. connection with the movable pressure disc 222. Another spring 2118 on the rod ZfiE makes electrical connection between the rod and the magnetic ring 2M, which is firmly secured in electrical connection with the sleeve 2139. The sleeve 242 is insulated from the carbon rings 216 by reason of its vitreous-enamelled external surface. In the position of the parts shown in the drawing, therefore, current passes from a central terminal 259 into the disc 2M and thence through the carbon rings to the movable pressure disc 222 and by way of the springs 241, 252 to the magnetic ring 2li-2 and sleeve 25.9. The sleeve 22S is in electrical connection with an insulated terminal 2139 secured in the disc 221. insulated leads, not shown in the drawing, are taken to the coil 22 l. The solenoid core 225 carries a contact 223 which, when full pressure is applied to the carbon pile, makes contact with the Contact 223 on the core 253 and so short circuits the pile. The contacts 223 correspond to the contacts 22S of Figure 3.

Figure of the drawing shows the manual control. On a rock shaft 225 there is mounted a manual control member 269 which is capable of moving over the turns of shunt field regulating resistance 291 wound upon an insulating block 266 and connected to the rock shaft 255 by a supporting frame 251. Screwed to the frame 25'. is a magnet frame 2&8 which carries a magnet coil 215 corresponding to the coil 215 of Figure 3. The magnet coil 215 has a core 259 which is capable of attracting an armature 266 supported on a spring 261. A second flat spring 224 secured to the back of the armature 260 and is curved upwards so as to bear against a tail-cam 263 on the manual control member 299. This is the mechanical connection indicated by the dot-- ted line 211 in Figure 3. The armature 266 is bent at right-angles as shown at 264 so as to extend under the coil 215 and it carries a movable contact member 218 which makes contact with the end of a contact arm 265 carried on an insulated bracket 266 on the magnet frame 258. A spring 261 extends from the part 2613 of the armature into engagement with an adjusting screw 26B. The result is that if the manual control member 299 is moved into the position shown in Figure 5 where the tail-piece 263 compresses the spring 262, the pressure of the spring 262 makes it easier for the coil 2i5 to attract the armature 260 and break the contacts at 213. Ii the manual control member 269 is moved by working the rock shaft 255 so that the lower end of control member' 269 moves to the right as viewed in Figure 5, the pressure of the tail-piece 263 on the spring 262 is more or less relieved and it becomes harder for the coil 215 to operate the armature. starting current of the motor 159 at which it will operate the carbon pile 216 by the solenoid 221 in the manner already explained. The irst few turns 21D of the winding 2E? are made of copper wire of negligible resistance and in moving over this part of the winding 2121 the control member 209 makes no difference to the resistance in the field circuit but serves only as a manual regulator of the starting current. A secondary tail-piece 269 serves to break the contacts 2i2 in the extreme left hand position of the control member but to allow them to close as soon the control member is moved away from that position. The tail-piece 269 corresponds to the mechanical connection 21! indicated in the connection diagram, Figure 3.

I claim:

l. A traction motor control installation comprising in combination with a traction motor having a shunt eld winding, automatic regulating means for the shunt eld of the motor to vary automatically the eld strength of the shunt eld 'winding as the load on the motor varies, a variable starting resistance in series with the motor armature, a main switch for connecting the motor and starting resistance to a source of electric current, manually operated control means having an initial movement to cause the main switch to be closed and further movement to determine the rate of cutting out 0I the variable starting resistance, and a variable eld resistance connected in parallel with the automatic regulating means for the shunt field for reducing the shunt field current and operatively connected to the manually operated control means to be actuated thereby to prevent the automatic regulating means for the shunt field winding from decreasing the held strength of the shunt eld winding until the starting resistance has been substantially cut out and to increase said eld resistance by further movement of said control means after the starting resistance has been cut out.

2. An installation as claimed in claim l, wherein the manually-operated control means are capable of movement in the opposite direction from that required for causing the main switch to be closed and are combined with means for inserting a resistance in the armature circuit of the motor in the event of such opposite movement and with means for completing a rheostatic braking circuit through said resistance.

3. An installation as claimed in claim l, wherein the means for reversing the connection of the shunt field winding comprises a manually-operable reversing switch interconnected with the manually-variable starting resistance so that it This increases, therefore, the' can only be operated when the motor is cleerate the contacts if the current is reversed, a

variable starting resistance in series with the motor armature, a main-switch for connecting the motor and starting resistance to a source of electric current, manually operated control means having an initial movement to cause the main switch to be closed and further movement to determine' the rate of -cutting out of the variable starting resistance, and-means operatively connected to the manually operated control means to be actuated thereby to prevent the automatic regulating means for the .shunt eld winding from decreasing the field strength of the shunt eld winding until the starting resistance has been substantially cut out. v

5. An installation as claimed in claim 4, wherein the polarizing member is Ian electromagnet connected to the supply connections through means for regulating the polarizing current t keep the amount thereof constant.

6. A traction motor control installation comprising in combination with a traction motor having a shunt field winding, automatic regulating means for the shunt field Iof the motor to vary automatically the field strength of the shunt eld winding as the load on the motor varies including a magnet coil in series connection with the motor armature current, contacts operated by said magnet coil for diminishing the value of the shunt eld resistance and a biasing coil in series with the shunt eld winding aiding said magnet coil in diminishing the value of said shunt field resistance, a variable starting resistance in series with the motor armature, a main switch for connecting the motor and starting resistance to a source of electric current, manually operated control means having an initial movement to cause the main switch to be closed and further movement to determine the rate of cutting out of the variable starting resistance, and means operatively connected to the manually operated ycontrol means to be actuated thereby to prevent the automatic regulating means for the shunt eld winding from decreasing the eld strength of the shunt eld winding until the starting resistance has been substantially cut out.

'7. An installation as claimed in claim `6, wherein a further modifying magnet coil is provided for the automatic field regulating means and a governing resistance therefor is located in the electric motor, the governing resistance and modifying magnet being so connected together and to the supply that as the motor heats up the automatic field regulating means operates at a lower armature current.

8. A traction motor control installation comprising in combination with a traction motor having a shunt field winding, automatic regulating means for the shunt field of the motor to vary automatically the eld strength of the shunt neld winding as the load on the motor varies', a

variable starting resistance in series with the motor armature having magnetic means for altering its value and manually operated means to determine the rate of action of said magnetic means, a main switch for connecting the motor 'and starting resistance to a source of electric current, manually operated control means having an initial movement to cause the main switch to be closed and further movement to determine the rate of cutting out of the variable starting resistance, and means operatively connected to the manually operated control means to be actuated thereby to prevent the automatic regulating means for the shunt field winding from decreasing the field strength ofr the shunt iield winding until the starting resistance has been substantially cut out.

9. An installation as claimed in claim 8, wherein the armature series vresistance consists of a carbon-pile and the magnetic means for altering its value comprises a solenoid to act upon the carbon-pile inl combination with an electromagnetic switch actuated by current in series with the motor armature for determining the current at which the solenoid compresses the carbon-pile,

10. An installation as claimed in claim 9, wherein a resistance having a manually-variable control is provided for reducing the shunt eld current and is operatively connected to the said electromagnetic switch so that initial movement of the manually-variable control varies the current at which the electromagnetic switch causesv the solenoid to press the carbon-pile while subsequent movement of the control serves to insert shunt eld resistance and thereby to permit the automatic means for varying the shunt eld current to become effective.

1l. An installation as claimed in claim 2, wherein a series of rheostatic braking contacts are provided for cooperation with the manuallyoperated control means, which contacts are so located as to be engaged by the control means upon the execution of said opposite movement and said contacts are connected to the same rer sistance as that employed as the starting resistance.

12. An installation as claimed in claim 3,

, wherein the means for reversing the motor com- ALFRED ERWIN REGINALD ARNOT.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 865,814 Powell Sept. 10, 1907 1,340,679 Whittingham May 18, 1920 1,419,178 Stevens June 13, 1922 1,439,892 Horton Dec. 26, 1922 1,752,179 James Mar. 25, 1930 2,262,379 Austin NOV. 11, 1941 2,347,037 Edwards et al Apr. 18, 1944 2,424,255 lSchaelchlin et al. July 22, 1947 

